Parents are naming their babies after popular Instagram filters
When BabyCenter released its list of most popular baby names for 2015 on Tuesday, a pattern emerged: More and more new parents are turning to Instagram for inspiration.
Sophia and Jackson may have claimed the top girl and boy spots, respectively, but names like Reyes and Valencia are on the rise. The most popular of the bunch, Lux (which is technically a tool, not a filter), is up 75 percent. Six more names, all filter choices, also rose in popularity over the past year: Juno, Reyes, Ludwig, Amaro, Valencia and Willow.
If you're a parent to be and a huge fan of editing your social media photos, consider this your baby-naming guide. Here are seven trendy Instagram-themed names and their corresponding filters.
Lux, Girl
According to Instagram, "Lux balances the exposure, provides much needed brightness, and the image really comes to life," so this name might be appropriate for a baby who you want to always be the life of the party.
Juno, Girl
Juno makes "warm tones pop and whites glow for vibrant photos of people," Instagram says. There's no meaning listed for this name, either, but that description suggests someone who's always looking on the bright side and finding a reason for joy.
Reyes, Boy
Want to go old-school? Reyes "brings a dusty, vintage look to your moments," Instagram says, so this name could describe someone with sophisticated taste who's wise beyond their years.
Ludwig, Boy
This name means "famous warrior," according to BabyCenter, but it sounds more like part of the crowd according to its Instagram description. The site says to use it to "soften and subtly shift colors to achieve the look and feel you want for your each photo." So perhaps Instagram-inspired parents have a more gentle personality in mind than Beethoven's parents did.
Amaro, Boy
One Instagram blogger notes that Amaro can "bring out all the blue and purple tones," but the word means "bitter" in Italian, so a baby with this name might turn out to have a perpetual case of ennui.
Valencia, Girl
In contrast to Amaro, Valencia tends to be used in photos with vibrant patches of reds and oranges. The name appropriately means "bravery," according to BabyCenter.
Willow, Girl
Willow gives a picture "subtle purple tones and a translucent glowing white border," according to Instagram. The name means freedom or tree, so if you'd enjoy taking your baby on nature hike photo shoots, this is a match made in baby-naming heaven for you.
#NoFilter has yet to make it on the popular names list, but here's the original photo for comparison:
